October 18 - 19, 2025 at 3:00 pm
A feast of classical & Jazz music
St. John's Anglican Church
A feast of classical & Jazz music
St. John's Anglican Church
Join us on the opening day of StirlingFest for an unforgettable afternoon of jazz, featuring some of Canada’s finest musicians. Pianist John Sherwood, guitarist Reg Schwager, and bassist Rob McBride come together to create a trio of extraordinary artistry, joined by acclaimed vocalist Sarah Jerrom. Together, they will bring a program of jazz classics and fresh interpretations, blending virtuosity, swing, and soulful expression. This stellar ensemble promises a performance full of energy, elegance, and spontaneity — the perfect way to launch this year’s festival.
On the second day of StirlingFest, enjoy a performance by the Madoc String Quartet, an exciting young ensemble already making their mark with passionate and expressive playing. The quartet brings energy, dedication, and a fresh perspective to the music they perform. Their concert promises a delightful evening of classical music, showcasing both their talent and their love for sharing music with the community.
The afternoon will be hosted by Eric Friesen, one of Canada’s most respected voices in classical music broadcasting, who will guide the audience through the program with his trademark warmth and insight.
Following the performances there will be a reception providing audience members an opportunity to meet the artists and a chance to taste the marvellous fare of the region and especially Hastings County.
The Explorer:
Classical 103.1 FM:
Jazz
Classical
John Sherwood
Piano
Born in Oakville Ontario in 1961, raised in St. Catharines, John Sherwood is easily among the top jazz pianists in Canada today.
His strong foundation in classical music is apparent but does not overshadow his ability to swing. John appears regularly with Peter Appleyard, and has also performed or recorded with Moe Koffman, Guido Basso...
Reg Schwager
Guitar
During a career spanning over forty years, Toronto's Reg Schwager has proven to be one of Canada's leading jazz artists while making a mark internationally.
Reg is a four-time winner of Canada's National Jazz Award for "Guitarist of the Year," and is on five Juno Award winning albums.
Rob McBride
Bass
Rob McBride is a highly in-demand bassist and bandleader who has been performing in the Toronto jazz scene for the last 25 years, playing at many of the city’s top jazz venues.
While specializing in jazz, Rob is also influenced by solo classical and improvised bass music and has incorporated creative...
Sarah Jerrom
Singer
Sarah Jerrom is a JUNO-nominated Canadian vocalist, pianist, composer and arranger specializing in jazz and creative music, taking her inspiration from lyric-driven melodies, genre-defying instrumentation and experimental soundscapes.
As a bandleader, Sarah has released four critically-acclaimed albums...
Madoc String Quartet
Classical
The musicians of the Madoc Quartet come to the ensemble from careers on stages across Canada, in Europe, Asia and the USA. Commended for excellence in performance, MQ is praised by their peers for offering fresh interpretations of traditional repertoire without compromising the composer’s stated intentions. Photo Credit to: Michelle at Soulful Dogs
Eric-Friesen
Host for Sunday Afternoon
Eric Friesen is a broadcaster, writer, speaker, interviewer and consultant on music, culture, broadcasting and religion in both Canada and the United States. He was a network host and executive for both CBC Radio and Minnesota Public Radio (NPR).
Eric is Chair of the Kingston WritersFest, Chair of the Advisory Committee...
Fill out this form to reserve your tickets. Payments are cash only at the door.
St. John's Anglican Church
73 North Street
Stirling, Ontario
P: 613-398-7573
Stirlingfest would like to thank our generous sponsors for their support of our 7st annual festival!
